Lochmaddy play park is set for a much needed refurbishment with the first steps taken to raise £95,000
Abigail Taylor
Local mums, Helen Stoddart and Selene Huntly, who both live close to the North Uist play park, have teamed up with Lochmaddy Hall committee to secure the necessary funds to improve the dilapidated playarea.
Consultation was arranged with primary school children, to ensure the right equipment will be bought.
“We gave them an A3 sheet and their head teacher encouraged them to draw their ideal play park and we got 58 drawings back. From those drawings we created a list of their most popular equipment of what we would get,” explained Helen.
Parents have also discussed ideas for a theme, to make sure the revamped play park will be a perfect fit in the local environment. As the village has links to fishing and an active harbour, a boat theme would not be a surprise to the organisers.
The existing park, which needs “completely ripped out and started again”, has been there for more than 20 years. Residents raised funds at the time it was established, although time and the weather have not been kind to the equipment.
Along with the park renovations, the team is interested in improving the football pitch beside the play park.
Recognising its importance to the area, Helen said: “We’re definitely keeping the pitch but it needs a bit of help as well. The kids really wanted to make sure it wasn’t going anywhere.”
In order to achieve the aim of creating a new park, the committee is busy securing funds for the project.
“We have some funding campaigns on the go, including the Aviva Community Fund, which has raised £1000, and North Uist Community Council has given money as well.”
It is estimated it will cost £95,000 to fully equip the park with the most popular ideas from the children as well as important details to encourage creativity and imagination in play.
“We want to give something that will be attractive to kids, where they can have their own communal space. It’s something that they don’t have here. They have outdoor space, but they don’t have a play space for creative play. We show how much we value young people by the spaces we provide for them and we don’t have any for our kids. We’re excited to create a space that kids will really enjoy, as well as a meeting space for parents to come together and talk.”
Helen believes that having a new park will not only be good for local children and families, but for visitors who will be in the area for the ferry and services in the town.
“It’ll create a centre for the area and may be useful for people visiting the hotels nearby, Taigh Chearsabhagh, or when waiting on the ferry. It will be something to be proud of in our area and having pride in your local area. We’ve heard comments of the park being an embarrassment and people would feel prouder of a nicer space.”
Having raised around £11,000 in just three months Helen and the team are optimistic about future funding and providing the children in the area somewhere safe to play.
